OCR A Level Chemistry A Multip(le Choice Question quiz (5.3
Transition elements)
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) topic quiz5.3 Transition
elementsInstructions and answers for teachers
These instructions cover the learner activity section which can
be found on page 8. This Lesson Element supports OCR A Level
Chemistry A.
When distributing the activity section to the learners either as
a printed copy or as a Word file you will need to remove the
teacher instructions section.
The Activity
This Lesson Element is a teaching and learning resource
containing 10 multiple choice questions (MCQs) on the theme of
transition elements and qualitative analysis. Some questions might
require synoptic thinking, using knowledge and ideas from various
topics across the full A Level content.
This resource can be used to test and consolidate understanding
at the end of a topic or to revisit and refresh knowledge at a
later point in the course.
Learning Outcomes
This lesson element relates to the specification learning
outcomes 5.3.1(a), 5.3.1(b), 5.3.1(d), 5.3.1(e), 5.3.1(f),
5.3.1(h), 5.3.1(j), 5.3.1(l), 5.3.2(a)
Introduction
Multiple choice questions allow rapid coverage of a wide range
of sub-topics.
Contrary to a widespread belief among students, multiple choice
questions are not necessarily easy they can be easy, moderate or
difficult.
The questions are written so that the incorrect answers are
plausible distractors based on common errors or misconceptions.
The questions in this quiz cover topics mainly from
specification sections:
5.3 Transition elements
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) topic quiz answers
1. Atoms of which transition element have only 1 electron in the
4s sub-shell?
A
chromium
Correct answer: Chromiums outer electron configuration is
4s13d5.
B
cobalt
Both of the metals that have one electron in the 4s subshell
begin with C (copper and chromium) and so the learner may have
tried to rote learn rather than work out the metals.
C
scandium
Scandium has one electron in its 3d subshell, not the 4s.
D
zinc
The learner may be thinking of zinc as being an exception to the
usual rules (it is not a transition metal) but is confused about
the reason why.
Your answer
2. Which is an example of a bidentate ligand?
A
H2O
Incorrect, this is monodentate
B
Cl
Incorrect, this is monodentate
C
H2NCH2CH2NH2
Correct answer: The lone pairs on the two nitrogen atoms can
form coordinate bonds with a metal or metal ion.
D
OH
Incorrect, this is monodentate.
Your answer
3. What colour change would you observe in the following
reaction?
[Cu(H2O)6]2+ + 4Cl
!
[CuCl4]2 + 6H2O
A
pale blue solution, to blue precipitate, to dark blue
solution
This represents the gradual addition of ammonia solution.
B
pale blue solution to yellow/green solution
Correct answer: The colour is a mixture of the reactant and the
pale yellow product.
C
pale blue solution to pale blue precipitate
This represents the addition of hydroxide ions.
D
violet solution, to grey-green precipitate, to purple
solution
They may have learned some colour changes by rote and picked the
wrong one; this is the formation of [Cr(NH3)6]3+ from
[Cr(H2O)6]3+.
Your answer
4. Which electron configuration corresponds to a transition
metal ion that forms a green solution?
A
[Ar] 4s23d6
Incorrect, this is the electron structure of Fe; they may have
linked green to iron.
B
[Ar] 4s23d5
Incorrect, this is the electron structure of Mn.
C
[Ar] 4s03d5
Incorrect, this is the electron structure of Fe3+ which is
brown; they may have linked green to iron.
D
[Ar] 4s03d3
Correct answer: aqueous Cr3+ is green in colour.
Your answer
5. Which electron configuration could correspond to a d-block
metal ion that is colourless in solution?
A
1s22s22p63s23p63d8
They have not appreciated that the partially filled d-sub-shell
corresponds to a transition metal ion, so the hydrated ion would be
coloured.
B
1s22s22p63s23p63d10
Correct answer: This is the electron configuration of Zn2+.
C
1s22s22p63s23p64s23d5
Incorrect, a d-block metal ion must have lost its 4s
electrons.
D
1s22s22p63s23p64s23d10
Incorrect, a d-block metal ion must have lost its 4s electrons;
they may just have focused on the full d sub-shell.
Your answer
6. Which complex ion shows optical isomerism and
stereoisomerism?
A
Incorrect, shows neither isomerism
B
Incorrect, this complex shows stereoisomerism but the mirror
image is superimposable.
C
Correct answer: H2O can be at 90 or 180, and the stereoisomer
shown has a non-superimposable mirror image.
D
Incorrect, this complex shows optical isomerism, but there is no
alternative stereochemistry possible.
Your answer
7. All these complex ions contain metal ions. Charges are not
shown.
Which complex ion has no overall charge?
A
[CuCl4]
This would have a charge of 2. They may have misremembered the
charge on the Cu ion.
B
[Cu(OH)2(H2O)4]
Correct answer: Copper exists as the Cu2+ ion in this complex.
The charge is balanced by the 2 OHions.
C
[Al(H2O)6]
This has a charge of 3+. They may have disregarded the
information that the metal is in ionic form.
D
[Al(OH)4]
This has a charge of 1. They may have made an error in
determining the charge on the aluminium ion.
Your answer
8. Which statement is true of the following reaction?
3Ni2+(aq) + 2Al(s) ( 2Al3+(aq) + 3Ni(s)
A
The aluminium is oxidised; the aluminium acts as an oxidising
agent.
They may think that the thing that is oxidised is the oxidising
agent.
B
The aluminium is reduced; the aluminium acts as an oxidising
agent.
This is the opposite to the correct answer; they may have
remembered red/ox the wrong way round.
C
The nickel ions are reduced; the nickel acts as an oxidising
agent.
Correct answer.
D
The nickel ions are reduced; the nickel acts as a reducing
agent.
They may think that the thing that is reduced is the reducing
agent.
Your answer
9. An unknown substance undergoes the following separate tests
to determine its identity:
sodium hydroxide is added; a brown precipitate forms
nitric acid is added; no change is observed
barium nitrate is added; no change is observed
silver nitrate is added; a white precipitate is formed which
dissolved in dilute ammonia
Identify the substance.
A
FeCO3
They are unclear on the colours for iron ions and the test for
carbonates.
B
Fe2(SO4)3
They may be competent with cation tests but are unclear of the
sulfate test.
C
FeCl2
They have the anion test correct but got the incorrect iron
ion.
D
FeCl3
Correct answer
Your answer
10. Which test(s) would differentiate between (NH4)2SO4 and
AlCl3?
1
Addition of NaOH(aq).
2
Addition of Ba(NO3)2.
3
Addition of AgNO3.
A
1, 2 and 3
They may have remembered the reagent for testing for NH4+ ions
but forgotten that heating is required.
B
only 1 and 2
They may have made the mistake above, and only focused on
positive tests for (NH4)2SO4.
C
only 2 and 3
Correct answer: Ba(NO3)2 will identify (NH4)2SO4 while AgNO3
will identify AlCl3.
D
only 1
Many errors here, possibly a guess.
Your answer
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) topic quiz5.3 Transition
elementsLearner Activity
1. Atoms of which transition element have only 1 electron in the
4s sub-shell?
A
chromium
B
cobalt
C
scandium
D
zinc
Your answer
2. Which is an example of a bidentate ligand?
A
H2O
B
Cl
C
H2NCH2CH2NH2
D
OH
Your answer
3. What colour change would you observe in the following
reaction?
[Cu(H2O)6]2+ + 4Cl
!
[CuCl4]2 + 6H2O
A
pale blue solution, to blue precipitate, to dark blue
solution
B
pale blue solution to yellow/green solution
C
pale blue solution to pale blue precipitate
D
violet solution, to grey-green precipitate, to purple
solution
Your answer
4. Which electron configuration corresponds to a transition
metal ion that forms a green solution?
A
[Ar] 4s23d6
B
[Ar] 4s23d5
C
[Ar] 4s03d5
D
[Ar] 4s03d3
Your answer
5. Which electron configuration could correspond to a d-block
metal ion that is colourless in solution?
A
1s22s22p63s23p63d8
B
1s22s22p63s23p63d10
C
1s22s22p63s23p64s23d5
D
1s22s22p63s23p64s23d10
Your answer
6. Which complex ion shows optical isomerism and
stereoisomerism?
Your answer
7. All these complex ions contain metal ions. Charges are not
shown.
Which complex ion has no overall charge?
A
[CuCl4]
B
[Cu(OH)2(H2O)4]
C
[Al(H2O)6]
D
[Al(OH)4]
Your answer
8. Which statement is true of the following reaction?
3Ni2+(aq) + 2Al(s) ( 2Al3+(aq) + 3Ni(s)
A
The aluminium is oxidised; the aluminium acts as an oxidising
agent.
B
The aluminium is reduced; the aluminium acts as an oxidising
agent.
C
The nickel ions are reduced; the nickel acts as an oxidising
agent.
D
The nickel ions are reduced; the nickel acts as a reducing
agent.
Your answer
9. An unknown substance undergoes the following separate tests
to determine its identity:
sodium hydroxide is added; a brown precipitate forms
nitric acid is added; no change is observed
barium nitrate is added; no change is observed
silver nitrate is added; a white precipitate is formed which
dissolved in dilute ammonia
Identify the substance.
A
FeCO3
B
Fe2(SO4)3
C
FeCl2
D
FeCl3
Your answer
10. Which test(s) would differentiate between (NH4)2SO4 and
AlCl3?
1
Addition of NaOH(aq).
2
Addition of Ba(NO3)2.
3
Addition of AgNO3.
A
1, 2 and 3
B
only 1 and 2
C
only 2 and 3
D
only 1
Your answer
A
C
B
D
B
C
B
C
D
C
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